The two have gone head to head over Jackson's affair with a model, Halvorson's voting record while in office and their original battle over the proposed airport near Peotone.

Despite his extra-marital affair, a recent poll showed Jackson being favored by women. An endorsement from a very powerful and smart woman like Pelosi can only help his cause.

"He deserves re-election and we're all going to do everything we can to make sure that happens - for many reasons," said Pelosi. "Personal, that is to say, his own personal leadership. Committee-wise, you wouldn't want to give up a committe position of such seniority on the Appropriations Committee that serves this community, this entire state, so well."